Lisa Vestal
Palo Alto,USA
Summary
Results-driven communications professional with expertise in developing and executing strategic communication initiatives. Skilled in internal communications and engagement, executive communications, change management, crisis management, stakeholder management, narrative development, designing communication and workflow channels and systems, collaborate with cross-functional departments, and foster positive brand perception and engagement. Proven ability to manage multiple projects, collaborate across teams, and adapt to evolving environments. Proficient in AI-powered communication tools and analytics, equipped to lead impactful event content programs.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Self-employed
Momentum Communications Consulting
SF Bay Area
08.2025 - Current
- Develop comprehensive communications strategies, including branding, change management, campaign development, and stakeholder mapping to enhance client engagement. Deliver executive thought leadership and media training through strategic writing and crisis communications, optimizing messaging and leveraging AI-powered tools for sentiment visualization and interpretation.
Public Affairs Specialist
Department of Defense
Mt. View, CA
05.2024 - 07.2025
- Executive & Strategic Alignment: With a Top Secret clearance, partnered closely with the executive team and People teams to operationalize the agency's internal voice. Translated goals and organizational changes into thoughtful, clear, and reassuring messaging for civilian and military staffing at all levels.
- Channel Clarity & Process Building: Executed comprehensive purpose of every channel (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, intranets & newsletters) to enhance engagement, events, programs, services and training, build scalable systems, efficient workflows for moments that matter.
- Media Relations Coaching: Managed media relations to promote positive coverage of campaigns, initiatives and programs. Responded to all inquiries, served as spokesperson, media liaison, coached and prepared executives and SMEs and facilitated all media interviews.
- Crisis Communications: Developed and implemented rapid-response stakeholder notifications, messaging, notifications, reputation and mitigation plans across all touchpoints.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Navigated complex processes, streamlined communication, influences and aligned multiple stakeholders for maximum shared impact and mission accomplishment.
- Administration: Directed daily operations, finance, and administration of public affairs team, ensuring strategic objectives and policy alignment.
Senior Communications Specialist
NASA
Mt. View, CA
10.2017 - 03.2024
- Storytelling: Distilled and translated complex technical content, data, and research into compelling storytelling, campaigns, branding, and thought leadership across digital and print platforms, interactive exhibits, events, programs and training enhancing internal and external audience understanding and engagement.
- Employee and Stakeholder Relations: Partnered closely with internal and external staff and partners to produce narrative strategy, mapping, messaging, immersive moments, launches and rollouts, and engagements to deliver high value multi-platform content across all touchpoints. Managed budgets, timelines, contracts, vendors.
- Employee Engagement: Developed strategy and branding for center and agency-wide campaigns, events, and initiatives, strengthening engagement, branding, and trust.
- Training and Recognition: Planned and executed agency-wide affinity resource group events, DEI training and development programs for all staffing levels, fostering an inclusive workplace culture.
- Engagement Channels: Designed and managed multiple platforms, intranet sites, websites, digital and print materials and visuals.
Marketing Planner and Campaign Strategist
SFMOMA
San Francisco, CA
06.2012 - 10.2017
- Expanded social media engagement by over 35%, increased membership, and event attendance by over 60% with multi-channel communications, media relations, and social media for the multi-year Museum-on-the Go campaign with business, nonprofit, academic and civic partners.
- Coordinated B2B partner market engagements and marketing campaigns using Asana, Marketo, and RaisersEdge, enhancing visibility and collaboration.
- Coordinated outreach campaigns across multiple venues, increasing member engagement.
Manager
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY
San Francisco, CA
08.2007 - 03.2012
- Planned, led, and facilitated year-long change management program with curriculum, training materials, interactive engagements, specialized trainers and speakers to optimize leadership development and operationalize transformations.
- Managed timelines, workflows, financial planning, reports, budgets, grants, vendor relations, contracts, insurance, and risk management.
- Planned and managed system wide outreach and engagement executing over 300 events, programs and initiatives with nearly 40 strategic community, civic and business partners. Expanded audience reach and media coverage by over 45%.
- Developed new system wide campaigns, initiatives, and trilingual events, and bilingual volunteer programs increasing engagement, services and partnerships.
- Produced diverse storytelling, multi-channel marketing, multimedia and publications, digital and print assets.
- Created original content, design and graphics for websites, social media, newsletters, and marketing collateral.
- Supervised high performing team to include coaching, development, recognition and evaluation.
Publicist
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Stanford, CA
10.2005 - 08.2007
- Secured record attendance & media coverage for high profile campaigns, programs and events with 100-8,000+ attendees
- Expanded key media relationships and coverage. Prepared staff for media interviews. Planned and facilitated interviews, wrote and distributed press materials.
- Developed and executed strategic communication plans for university campaigns, initiatives, programs and VIP, events. Crafted internal and external communications and marketing collateral for engagement and enhance university visibility
- Planned, managed and executed internal and external communications, executive communications, VIP and high profile marketing for university wide programs, partnerships and launches.
- Produced messaging, marketing collateral, newsletters, FAQs, publications, digital and print comms, presentations, photo & video shoots.
- Managed end-to-end event management for internal and external audiences including speakers, agendas, rehearsals, run-of shows, budgets, contracts, vendor and stakeholder relations.
- Supervised and evaluated staff and consultants.
Education
B.A - Communication
Santa Clara University
M.A - Art History
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago
Skills
- Communications strategy and planning
- Content strategy, ideation, and storytelling
- Executive thought leadership and media training
- Media Relations
- Executive, external and internal communication
- High impact writing and editing
- Creative visual design and production
- Stakeholder management
- Analytics and measurement
- Project management
- Change management
- Social media and website optimization
- High profile event management
- Coach and lead high performance teams
- Languages: Italian and Spanish
Languages
- Italian, spoken business proficiency
- Spanish, intermediate
Languages
Italian
Professional
Spanish
Professional
Accomplishments
- NASA Group Achievement Awards for engagement excellence
- SPPL highest award for teamwork
- SF Mayor's Office award for program excellence
- W3 and Davey industry awards for multimedia excellence
Timeline
Self-employed
Momentum Communications Consulting
08.2025 - Current
Public Affairs Specialist
Department of Defense
05.2024 - 07.2025
Senior Communications Specialist
NASA
10.2017 - 03.2024
Marketing Planner and Campaign Strategist
SFMOMA
06.2012 - 10.2017
Manager
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY
08.2007 - 03.2012
Publicist
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
10.2005 - 08.2007
B.A - Communication
Santa Clara University
M.A - Art History
The School of The Art Institute of Chicago